Air conditioning system for railway cars



April 25, 1933. 1.. w. MELCHER 1,905,040

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Sept. 2, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet i ,Z v 1a- April 25, 1933. w MELHER 1,905,040

AIR CONDITIONINGSYSTEM FOR RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Sept. 2, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IAN/EN 727 Q 11/ mgzzr Patented Apr. 25, 1933 FUNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE- LIE w. MEMBER, OI WINNETKA, ILLINOIS m GIJNDII'IONING SYSTEM 1'03 RAILWAY CABS Original application filedSeptember 8, 1880, Serial Io. 478,227. Divided and tliia applicationflied July 0,

1931. Serial No. 549,628.

The invention relates generally to air conditioning systems. Moreparticularly the invention relates to that type of system which isdesigned rimarily for use in con- 5 nection with a rai way car andoperates to cool, as well as filter or clean, the, air within the car.One ob'ect of the invention is to pr0v1de a system 0 this type whichcomprises an air conditioning unlt consisting of an air filter on thebottom of the car-body and amotordriven fan for forcing air through thefilter and delivering the filtered air under pressure into the car.

vide a s stem of the last mentioned character in w 'ch the motor-drivenfan of the air conditionin unit is connected so as to dis charge theltered air upwardly around and longitudinally of one of the sets ofpipes which are located at the sides of the car, and

serve, when steam is passed therethrough, to heat the car.

Another object of the invention is to rovide an air conditioning systemof the 0 aracter and type under consideration in which the air filter isdisposed in ahousing having a valve-controlled inlet for air outside thecar and a valve-controlled inlet for air in the car so that themotor-driven fan may be used to deliver air from the outside or from theinside of the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system of theaforesaid character which includes in addition to the air conditioningunit, an independent motor-driven refrigerating unit whereby thefiltered air max be cooled prior to delivery into the car. still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a system for conditioning airwithin a railway car which includes a plurality of air conditioningunits and refrigcrating units and embodies devices whereby the variousunits may be separately or individually controlled.

Another object of the invention is to pro- In addition, the inventioncontemplates as one of its objects, providing an air conditloning systemfor a railway car which is generally of new and improved construction,may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost and is extremelyefiicient in operation by virtue of the fact that it contem lates thedelivery of warm or cool fresh air into the car.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present air conditioning system will be apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel to features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularl defined by claims at theconclusion hereo In the drawings which accompany and form a part of t isspecification or disclosure and in which. like numerals of referencedenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a railway car that is eqgi pedwith an air conditionmg system em 0 ying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the car;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section and piirtly in elevation of one ofthe air con- 'tiomng units and the refrigerating unit that is associatedtherewith;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the air conditioning and-refrigerating units ofFig. 3; and

5 is a section on the line 5-5 of 8c e system which forms the subjectmatter of the resent invention is designed to condition t e air in arailway car 6 and comprises a plurality of air conditioning 86 units 78, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The railway car 6, as illustrated in the drawings,embodies a floor 13 and a pair of sides 14 and 15. The sides are hollowand support a roof 16. A series of pipes 17 is located adjacent thelower ortion of each of the sides of floor 13 of the car and issuspended from a.

plate. 20. The latter is-secured beneath the floor in ang'suitablemanner. The fan 19 op-'- erates to raw air through the filter 18 and todeliver the filtered air into the car. It

comprises a casing 21 and a fan-wheel 22., The fan-casing is formed ofcast metal and is provided at the upper end thereof with an outlet 23and a flange 24. The flange 24 is secured against the under face of thelate 20 by means of bolts 25 and forms witli bolts a connection wherebythe fan is detachably suspended from the bottom of the electric motor26.

railway car.- The fan-wheel 22 is disposed in the casing and is drivenby means of an i The latter is secured by bolts 27 to the inner side ofthe fan-casing 21 and is provided withan armature shaft 28 which extendsinto the fan-casing and supports the fan-wheel 22.v The outer side ofthe fan-casing is provided with an eye 29. Durin operation of theelectric motor 26, the an-wheel 22 is driven and operates to draw airthrough the eye 29 and to discharge the air upwardly through the outlet23.

A flanged ring 30 is bolted to the top face of the plate 20 andcommunicates with the outlet 23 b way of an opening 20" in the plate. As eet metal duct 31 is secured to the upper end of the ring and extendsthrough the floor 13 of the car. The duct is arranged so as to deliverthe filtered air from the fan to the space around the series of pipes 17which are associated with the side'14. A sheet metal shield 32 islocated over the upper end of the duct31 It extends longitudinally ofand over the portions of the pipes adjacent the duct and has open endsfor the discharge of the filtered air into the car. A deflector 33 ismounted in the upper end of the duct 31 and is arranged so that thefiltered air is divided and directed longitudinally of the pipes inopposite directions. When steam is applied to the pipes 17 at the side14 of the railway car, the filtered air which is forced upwardly throughthe flanged ring 30 and the duct 31 is confined to movementlongitudinally of the car by the shield 32 and is heated by the portionsof the pipes within the shield prior to discharge through the ends ofthe shield andinto the car. By connecting the outlet of the fan so thatit discharges around the pipe 17, it is not necessary to use a separateor special heating dethe 32, the filtered air is caused before dischargeinto the interior of the car, to travel longi- 'tudinally of the pipesand thus become heated.

The filter 18 through which air is drawn by the fan19 for cleaning orpurification purposes, is disposed-in a sheet metal housing 34. Thishousing is positioned outwardl of the fan-casing 21 and is provided atthe inner side thereof with a flange 35. The latter fits around a flange36- which is formed integrally with the fan-casing and defines the eye29. The filter is of the self-contained type and comprises a rectangularframe 37, a mass of filter. material 38 and sheets 39 and 40 of wirescreen. The frame fits removably in the outer side portionof the housing34 and serves to hold the sheets 39 and 40 in spaced relation. Thefilter material 38 is formed of hair, wire or any other suitablesubstance and is confined between the sheets 39 and 40. Prior toplacement in the housing 34, the filter is dipped in. light oil so as toform on the filter material 38 and the sheets 39 and 40 a film orcoating to which all dust particles and impurities adhere during passageof air through the filter. In'order to clean the filter, it is onlnecessary to remove the frame 37 from t e sheet metal housing 34 and dipit in a solution of soda or any other cleaning fluid so as to remove thedustparticles from the filter material 38. After cleaning, the filter isdipped in light oil and is replaced in the housing. Upon replacement ofthe filter in the housing and operation of the motor 26 for the fan, airis drawn into the housing, passes through the filter by which it iscleaned and is then forced upwardly under pressure through the outlet23, the flanged ring 30 and the duct 31.

A hood 41 is removably secured to the outer side of the sheet metalhousing 34. This hood embodies'an inlet 41a and supports a series ofshutters 42. The latter are supported pivotally by the'housing so thatthey may be opened or closed to control the ingress of air from theoutside of the car through the inlet 41a. Any suitable mechanism may be.employed to control the shutters, such, for example, as an arm whichextends upwardly between the walls of. the sides 14 and is arranged sothat it may be operated from the interior of the car. In

cold weather, it is sometimes desirable to cut oil some or all of theair from outside of the car and to draw air from the car. In view ofthis fact a pipe 43 is connected to the top of the hood 41. This pipeextends upwardly through an opening in the plate 20 and projects intothe space between the inner and outer walls of the side 14. The pipe 43receives air from the car through an inlet 44 in the inner side wall ofthe S1d8 6 14. This inlet is located adjacent the roof of the car, asillustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, and is controlled by a series ofshutters '45. Any suitable controlling mechanism may be provided for theshutters 45. By regulating the shutters 42 and 45, the air entering thehousing 34 may be controlled so that all or a portion of the air istaken from the outside or from the inside of the car. During warm or hotweather, the shutters 45 may be closed and all of the air drawn into thehousing 34 through the inlet 41. In cold weather, the shutters 42 may beclosed and all of the air drawn into the housing by way of the inlet 44.The shutters 42and 45 operate as valves for the inlets 41 and 44, and inconjunction with said inlets, form simple means whereby the fan may bemade to act upon or to draw air through the filter from either theoutside or the inside of the car.

The air conditioning unit 7 is associated with a refrigerating unit 46for cooling the air in warm weather when no steam is applied to thepipes 17. This unit is supported removably from the fan-casing 21 andcomprises a compressor 47. The latter is of usual construction and iscontained in a casing 48 which is provided at the upper end thereof witha flange 49. This flange is secured by bolts 50 to a flange 51 on thebottom of the fan-casing 21 and forms with the bolts a connectionwhereby the refrigerating unit is supported removably from thefan-casing. A gear-case 52 is associated with the compressor casing 48.The compressor is driven by an electric motor 53.

This motor embodies a housing which is pro-- vided with a flange 54. Thelatter is secured by bolts 55 to the gear-case 52. The compressor isdriven b the motor through the medium of a sproc et 56 which is fixed onthe armature shaft 57 of the motor and drives a chain 58. The chaindrives a sprocket 59 which is fixed to the crank shaft 60 of thecompressor. The sprockets 56 and 59 and the chain 58 are contained inthe gear-case 52 and are accessible for repair or replacement purposesthrough an opening which is normally closed by a removable plate 61. Apipe 62 is provided with a suitable control valve 63 and receivesrefrigerant from the high-pressure side of the compressor 47. This pipeconducts the refrigerant to a condenser coil 64 which is contained in anopen housing or frame 65 on the bottom portion of the compressor casing48. A pipe 66 delivers the cooled refrigerant to an expansion-valve 67.An expansion coil of the radiator type comprises upper and 35 lowerheads 68 and connecting pipes 69 and is dis osed in the filter-housing34 between the fi ter and the eye 29 of the fan so that the air, afterpassing through the filter, will be cooled in transit to the fan whilethe refrigerating unit is in operation. 'The up er, head 68 is.connected to the expansion va ve 67. The expansion coil is su ported onan extension of the flange 49 of t e compressorcasing sothat it forms apart of the refrigerating unit and extends upwardly through an opening 70 in the bottom of the housing .intothe space between the filter andfan. It is removable from the housing 34 when the unit is disconnectedor detached fromv the fan-casing 21. The lower head 68 is connected ba'pipe 71 to the lowressure side of t e compressor. A plate 2 extendsover the outer side portion of the compressor and the parts connectedthereto to prevent them from being damaged by moving ob'ects. The entirerefrigerating unit, inclu ing the compressor, motor, condenser coil,expansion coil and pipe connections, are secured together. Whenever itis desired to dispense with the refrigerating unit or to remove it forrepair, it is only necessary to detach the unit from the fancasing byloosening the bolts 50. The expansion coil while supported on thecompressor-casing is free to be lowered through the opening 70 in thefilter housing 34. This makes it possible in the event of a re- .pairbeing necessary, to remove quickly the refrigerating unit and replace itwith another. When the unit is detached with res(pect to the airconditioning unit 7, a plate not shown) may be bolted to the flange 51 vto cover the openin 70. v

The air conditionlng units 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are similar inconstruction to the air conditioning unit 7 and are associated withrefrigeratmg units which are comparable to the refrigerating unit 46.They operate in conjunction with the unit 7 and the refrigerating unit46 to effect an efiicient and thorough conditioning of the air withinthe railway car 6. The motors for the air conditionin units and themotors for the. re frigeratmg units are supplied with current by meansof a pair of line conductors 73 and 74. The motor for each airconditioning unit is connected to the conductor 73 by a branch conductor75 and is connected to the line conductor 74 by a branch conductor 76.The branch conductors 75 include control switches 77 whereby the motorsfor the air conditioning units may be individually controlled. Theseswitches are preferably mounted within the car so-that they may bemanipulated from within when it is desired to start or stop the fans.The motors for the refrigeratin units which are associated with the airconditioning units are connected to the line conductors 73 by branchconductors 78. The latter include control switches the motors for therefrigerating units. By utilizing a plurality of separately or 1nd1-'vidually controlled air conditioning units in combination with aplurality of separately or individually controlled refrigerating units,the air in different zones or portions of the car may be conditioned.,It is therefore possible in the event that one portion of the carrequires more cooling or heating than other portions, to operate theunit for that portion of the air within the car.

The operation of the system is as follows:

When the air within the car 6 is'too warm for the comfort of thepassengers, the conductor or any other attendant of the car will closethe switches 77 and 79 so as to cause both the airconditioning and.refrigerating units to operate to cool'and filter the air within thecar. When the temperature ofthe air within the car is such that coolinis unnecessary, the switches 79 are opene so as to render inoperativethe refrigeratin units. When the switches 79 are opene the fans of theair conditioning units serve to draw air through-the filters and todischarge the air under pressure into the car in a cleaned or purifiedcondition. In cold weather when steam is supplied to the pipes 17 alongthe sides 14 and 15 of the car, the refrigerating units may be leftinoperative or may be removed. By controlling the shutters 42 and 45,fresh air may be delivered into the car or the air in the car may bere-circulated. I

The herein described air conditioning system is exceedingl eflicient inoperation and serves to furnis to zones or localized portions within thecar, cleaned warm or cool air. By virtue of the fact that the variousunits of the system are in the nature of attachments and are removable,repair work may be readily carried out. An advantage and acharacteristic of the present system resides in the fact that it may beapplied without change or substantial reconstruction of the railway carto which it is applied.

The invention is'not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, sincethese maybe modified within the scope of the appendedclaims, Without departing from the I spirit and scope of the invention.

This application for Letters Patent is a division of my applicationwhich matured into Letters Patent N 0. 1,825,808 dated October 6, 1931.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1, The combination with an inclosure having heating ipes therein, of anair filter. supported exter1orly of the inclosure, a c0n'-' duitextending throu h one of the walls of the inclosure and lea ing to-thepipes, a motor-driven'fan also supported" exteriorly of the inclosureand connected to force air through the filter and to discharge thefiltered air under and then aroun the pipes and into the inclosure, anda separately controllable refrigerating unit associated with the filterand 'fan and comprising a refrigerant line positioned to cool the airforced through the filter by the fan and adapted to be used when thepipes are not employed for heatmg purpose 2. The combination with aninclosure. of a housin supported exteriorly of the inclosure anembodying a valve-controlled pressure through the conduit.

inlet for air from the inclosure and a a refrigerating unit associatedwith therhousin and fan .and comprising a refrigerant line positioned tocool the air prior to discharge by the fan into the inclosure.

3. The combination with aninclosure, of a housing supported exteriorlyof the inclosure and embodying a valve-controlled inlet for air from theinclosure and a valvecontrolled inlet for air outside ofthe inclosure,an'air filter mounted in the housing,

a conduit extending throughv one of the.

walls of the inclosure, a motor-driven fan also supported exteriorly ofthe inclosure and connected to draw air into the housing via either orboth of the inlets and then through the filter and to discharge thefiltered air under pressure through the conduit into the inclosure, anda refrigerating unit associated with the housin and fan and comprising arefrigerant hne extending through an opening into the housing andpositioned between the filter and the fan to cool the filtered air priorto discharge by the fan through the conduit. p

4. The combination with an inclosure having heating pipes therein, of ahousing supported exter orly of the inclosure and embodying avalve-controlled inlet for air from the inclosure and a valve-controlledinlet for air outside of the inclosure, an air filter mounted ,in thehousing, a conduit extending through one of the walls of the inclosureand. leading to the pipes, a motor-driven fan also supported exteriorlyof the inclosure and connected to draw air into the housing via eitheror both of the inlets and then through the filter and to discharge thefiltered air through the conduit and then around the pipes and into theinclosure, and a separately controllable refrigerating unit assoc atedwith the housing and fan and comprislng a refrigerant line ositionedwithin the housing to cool the an forced through the filter by the fanand adapted to be used when the pipes are not employed for heatingpurposes. 5. The combination with a railway car of an air filter mountedunder the body 0 the car, a conduit extending through the bottom of thecar, a motor-driven fan .also mounted under the car-body and connectedto draw air through the filter and to discharge the filtered air throughthe conduit into the car, and a refri crating unit associated with thefilter and an and comprising a refrigerant line positioned to cool theair forced through the filter by the fan.

6. The combination with a railway car, of a housing mounted under thebody of the car and having a valve-controlled inlet for 4 air from theinterior of the car and a valvecontrolled inlet for air from outside ofthe car, an air filter disposed in the housing, a

conduit extending through the bottom of the car, and a motor-driven fanalso'mounted under the car-body and connected to draw air into thehousing via either or both of the inlets and then through the filter andto force the filtered air under pressure through the conduit into thecar.

7. The combination with a railway car, of

a housing mounted under the body of the.

car and having a valve-controlled inlet for air from the interior of thecar and a valvecontrolledinlet for air from'outside of the car, an airfilter disposed in the housing, a

conduit extending through the bottom of the car, a motor-driven fan alsomounted under the car-body and connected to draw air into the housingvia either or both of the inlets and then through the filter and toforce the filtered air under pressure through the conduit into the car,and a refrigerating unit associated with the housing and fan andcomprising a refrigerant line positioned to cool the air as it isdischarged by the fan into the car.

8. The combination with a railway car, of a housing mounted under thebody of the car and having a valve-controlled inlet for air from theinterior of the car and a valvecontrolled inlet for air from outside ofthe car, an air filter disposed in thehousing, a conduit extendingthrough the bottom of the car, a motor-driven fan also mounted under thecar-body and connected to draw air into the housing via either or bothof the inlets and then through the'filter and toforce the filtered airunder pressure through the conduit into the car, and a refrigeratingunit associated with the housing and fan and comprising a refrigerantline extending into the ousing and between the filter and fan and orative 'to cool the filtered air prior to disc 'arge b the faninto thecar.

9. The comb having'a series of longitudinally extending steam pipesalong the inner face of one side thereo or heating purposes, of ahousing mounted under the body of the car and having a valve-controlledinlet for air from the interior of. the car and a valve-controlled inletfor air from outside of the car an air filter disposed in the housing, aconduit extending through the bottom of the car and leading to thepipes, a motor-driven fan also mounted under. the car-body! andconnected to. draw air into the housing via either or both of the inletsand then through the filter and to force the filtered air through theconduit and then around the pipes and into the car, and a separatelycontrollable refrigerating unit mounted under the calfbody andcomprising a refrigerating coil positioned to cool the air drawn throughthefilter by the fan and adapted to be used when the p'pes in the carare not employed for heating purposes. I

10. In a system of he character described, the combination with arailway car,, of a plurality of inde endent air conditioning unitsmounted un er the car body and connected to sup ly cleaned air intodifferent portions of t e car via ducts extending through thecar-bottom, each of said units comprising an air filter, a fan forforcing the air through the filter and into the car, and a motor theunits from the interior of the car.

11. In a system of the character described, the combination with aninclosure, of a lurality of air conditioning units connecte to inationwith a railway car or driving the fan, and means for separatelycontrolling the fan motors of supply cleaned air to different portionsof the inclosure, each of said units comprising an air filter, a fan forforcing the air through the filter and into theinclosure, and

a motor for. driving the fan, a plurality of filtered air into differentportions of the car, each of said units comprising an air filter. a fanfor forcing air through the filter system of the I and into the car, anda. motor for driving the fan, a plurahty of motor-driven refriferatingunits associated 'with the air con 1 tioning units respectively andembodying re 5 frigerant lines ositioned to cool the air cleaned by thelters, and means for Sept rately controlling the motors 'for the airconditionin and re rigerating units;

Signe 'at Chicago, Illinois, this 6th day 10 of July, 1931. v

. LEE W. MELCHER.

